Powers of the Executive

Key aims of the Executive

• To propose legislation

• To propose the budget

• Make policy decisions

• Conduct foreign policy

• Respond to major problems or crisis

• Control the forces of law and order, including police and courts, armed forces and intelligence services

• To implement legislation

• To organise and mange the services provided by the state

What are prerogative powers?

• Policy-making powers that the executive has that are dominant over Parliament

Elective Dictatorship

Executive has a number of institutional and structural advantages that make the branch dominant over the legislature

Control over Legislation

• Power to control the legislative agenda in Parliament

• Government is effectively a lawmaker

• Legislature’s job to pass the laws

• Parliamentary session are controlled by the executive

In what ways does the executive control the legislative programme?

• Controls the agenda

• Can amend and/or deny legislation

• Strengthens the government

What highlights the relationship between executive and legislation?

Secondary legislation

• Legislation that can be passed through Parliament and become law without the approval of the rest of Parliament

Prime Minister

Head of the government and chair of the government

Cabinet

The main decision-making body in government. It is comprised of the chair - the prime minister - and other senior ministers who are cabinet ministers

Executive

A branch of government that is responsible for implementing legislation and making policy. In UK politics, the executive inherently overlaps with another branch of government, the legislature, as the executive is made up of the MPs in government

Minister

A member of government, in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, who has been given a specific policy area to focus on.

Government Department

A unit of government, usually run by a minister, that is responsible for one policy area.

Secondary Legislation

A law which passes through Parliament without going through the legislative process that primary legislation does. It is enacted or changed by ministers.

Royal prerogative

A range of powers that are available to ministers, handed to the government by the monarch. Parliamentary approval is not required.

Patronage

The power available to an individual to appoint someone to a position

Separation of powers

A system of government where the legislative, executive and judicial branches are kept apart and do not work together e.g. neither has authority over the other

Peer

A member of the House of Lords